Finding Our Way

Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38

Today's feast presents us with a number of challenges.  We ourselves are not sinless, so how can we relate to someone who is?  Moreover, how can we reconcile the fact that God provides this privilege to one but not to anyone else?  We find ourselves readily accepting of Jesus because he became one of us and lived among us in poverty and service, showing us the way to live as human beings on earth.  We struggle to make sense of this privilege of Mary.  

While we may not have the privilege of sinlessness, we do have a number of things provided to all people. We have our free will, free to choose the good and to be better than we are.  We have the person and example of Jesus who shows us the way of love in the world.  We have the example of Mary and others who have lived great virtue in their lives.  These things are all at our disposal, and it is enough.  It is sufficient for us to make progress in our lives.

If today's feast teaches us nothing else, it is that we cannot perseverate on what has been given to others.  We can only focus on what has been given to us, and we come to realize that it is quite a lot.  At Christmas we receive gifts, and we note the ingratitude of those who are ungrateful for what we receive and are jealous of what others have been given.  Today we must remember that lesson.  We can celebrate the gift another has been given while being grateful for what we have received as well.